U.S. actress Scarlett Johansson is seen on set during the first day's filming for Woody Allen's new film in Barcelona July 9, 2007. Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Academy Award-winning director Woody Allen has chosen to start filming on a Barcelona beach on Monday.

    The untitled film will be a "love letter to Barcelona," Allen told a news conference in Barcelona. He hoped to create a portrait of the northeastern Spanish city as he did in his 1979 masterpiece "Manhattan."

    U.S. actresses Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Spaniards Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz will star in the film.  

    The shooting of the film is expected to take seven weeks, including one week in the northern Spanish region of Asturias and one day in Allen's home of New York City.

    The Spanish goverment, the regional authority, public universities and businesses are all investing in the film.

    (Agencies)